Central Oregon Sportsmen Show Volunteers needed

[THE KIWANDA KID]

Good Afternoon everyone!

We still need more volunteers to be a part of another GREAT Life Jacket Give Away at the Central Oregon Sportsmen's Show, in Redmond, February 28 - March 2nd, 2008.

The Oregon State Marine Board is looking for more volunteers to assist us with the Life Jacket Give Away... each child will receive and be fitted with a FREE Mustang life jacket (while supplies last).

- Help fit life jackets to children (infants to 12 years old);
- Teach how to properly enter and exit from a small boat; and
- How to rescue someone from cold water.

Below are the dates and times still available to assist the Marine Board with this AWESOME event!

If you are interested in assisting us, please look at the available days and times then e-mail Julio Garcia at julio.e.garcia@state.or.us (julio.e.garcia@state.or.us), stating the date(s) and time(s) you would like to volunteer. Then Julio will send you a confirmation letter with detailed information.

Here are the dates and times available:
Thursday, Feb. 28th (three shifts)
- 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm;
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm;
and 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

Friday, Feb. 29th (three shifts)
- 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm;
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm;
and 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

Saturday, March 1st (three shifts) -

10:00 am - 1:00 pm;
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm; and
4:00 pm - 8 pm.

Sunday, March 2nd (three shifts) -
10:00 am - 1:00 pm;
12:30 pm - 3:30 pm; and
3:00 pm - 6 pm.

Each Volunteer will receive:
FREE Parking (Expo does not charge for parking)
FREE Admission
Meal Reimbursement (if working during a lunch or dinner shift)

Snacks and water will be provided

We need assistance in several places...

Waiver table,
directing traffic,
the JUNIOR BOATER PROGRAM -

We will have 4 volunteers fitting children, 3 inflatable boat stations with 6 volunteers (2 volunteers at each boat) and 3-4 PFD toss stations (two volunteers at each station), and at the exit table (handing out goody bags to the children).

If you have limitations, please state what station you would be comfortable volunteering for and we can accommodate. The second station (inflatable boats) is the most strenuous station.

There will be a pre-show orientation for all volunteers on February 27th, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm.

Further details will be in your confirmation letter. This is where you'll learn about all the logistics regarding the give-a-way, expectations and duties.

If you cannot make the training, we will train people before their scheduled shifts.

Please distribute this e-mail throughout your organizations or to whom you think would be interested in volunteering.

This is a HUGE and FUN event and we hope that you can participate!! We need 15 volunteers per shift to make this event a success!! Please help us keep our kids safe in and around water!

If you have already signed up, THANK YOU and we'll be sending your confirmations soon!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or e mail me.

Thank you for volunteering!
MariAnnMariAnn Koloszar
Mandatory Boating Education Coordinator
Oregon State Marine Board
P.O. Box 14145
Salem, OR 97309-5065
MariAnn.Koloszar@state.or.us (MariAnn.Koloszar@state.or.us)
(503) 378-8587 (Main)
(503) 378-5158 (Direct)
(503) 378-4597 (Fax)

[THE KIWANDA KID]

I know that we all have busy lives and schedules but I can't encourage you enough to take advantage of the opportunity you have to educate and empower a young persons life.

The time you spend today will be paid back ten fold if just one life is saved or a tragedy is avoided.

Please consider volunteering and ask others to do so as well. If you have any questions and you dont feel comfortable calling Salem please feel free to call me at the shop (ask for Mike) 541-546-3354 and I will gladly field them as needed. Thank you. TKK

[Two Fister]

Come on CO ifishers!! I'm signed up for the 4-closing shift on Friday and Saturday. Come on down and join me!!
TF

[Jennie@ifish]

This is an absolutely wonderful program that you will be absolutely glad that you volunteered for. It's one of those major feel good things.

Remember-- Life Jackets float! YOU Don't! :)

Jen

[fish-on-bend]

I just volunteered for the Fri noon to 3 shift. Anyone else????

[moknots]

I'm in. So's my brother-in-law who's arm I barely had to twist! We're on the 3-6pm shift Sunday. What slots are you most hurtin' for KK?

I realize old farts are pretty hard to teach, but thanks to mandatory lifejacket rules for anyone on a boat under 12, at least some young and still impressionable lives will still be altered, and saved!

I had my eyes opened BIG when I was in the USCG. Search and rescue was all too often body recovery. But the real eye opener came when they rounded up a bunch of us tough young Coasties and asked who thought they'd need help climbing up a dock ladder after jumping into Juneau/Douglas Boat Harbor in January. Life jacket's weren't optional. Good thing, not one of 20 guys was able to climb the ladder himself after 60 seconds in the water, but at least we all floated so they could pull us out.

[FallRiverGuy]

I'm in too. Doing Saturday 4 to 8.

[SAMUN]

I just signed up for 2:30 to 8:00 on Thurs 28.

[THE KIWANDA KID]

Thanks ifishers and keep em comin'. This is the first year they have done this at the Redmond show so they can use all the help they can get. TKK

[THE KIWANDA KID]

Bump TTT

[THE KIWANDA KID]

just wanted to say thank you to the 5 people that I know of that signed on to help and a big SHAME ON YOU to those who did not. What a wasted opportunity and even poorer showing of ifish member support for an event that the Valley members piled in to help with. I know the bull trout opener is upon us but that would be a pretty poor excuse IMHO. Thanks again to those who helped out. I hope you can come by our booth (you know which one) and introduce yourself so I can put some faces to some names and names to monikers. TKK

[bwild]

just wanted to say thank you to the 5 people that I know of that signed on to help and a big SHAME ON YOU to those who did not. What a wasted opportunity and even poorer showing of ifish member support for an event that the Valley members piled in to help with. I know the bull trout opener is upon us but that would be a pretty poor excuse IMHO. Thanks again to those who helped out. I hope you can come by our booth (you know which one) and introduce yourself so I can put some faces to some names and names to monikers. TKK

Hey man, if I lived within 50 miles of Bend/Redmond, I'd be there. Have fun at the show and thanks for doing this.:applause:

[THE KIWANDA KID]

Thanks Bwild that was nice. Sorry if I came accross cranky. I know folks are bussy but if we are to bussy for kids then we need to take a gut check on our priorities. TKK

[Bucolic buffalo]

I worked it yesterday, Thursday, and it was a hoot to watch the kids. One little weeble about 18 months had his PFD on and as the mother carried him out she attempted to remove it. It took her about 2 seconds to decide to leave it on him. He wasn't about to take it off. It will be interesting to see how many PFD's are given out by the end of the show.

[fish-on-bend]

Did my shift today with Waterfish. We manned the rubber rafts. Some kids loved the "ride" and others were scared to death. Many of the parents were taking pictures. :excited:

[FallRiverGuy]

Twofister and I worked our shift this evening and we had a lot of fun. One big kid nailed me in the face with a throwable seat cushion. We're back at it tomorrow evening.

[Two Fister]

One big kid nailed me in the face with a throwable seat cushion.

Yeah, that Maverick has always been a big kid....

Lots of fun. The kids had a great time and so did we. All of you Central Oregon ifishers that didn't participate missed out.

TF

[THE KIWANDA KID]

It was a pleasure to meet some of you that stoped by the booth and I cant thank you enough for your time you are richer men in your hearts from this day forward. thank you thank you thank you.:applause: TKK

[moknots]

[quote=THE KIWANDA KID;1898494

How's the life jacket supply holding up? Our 17 year old German Exchange Student is pretty jazzed about helping out the kids, but we aren't "on" until the last shift Sunday. Hope she gets to see the American Way in true form and actually gets to give some away before they run out. She can't believe it -- free life jackets for kids. What a concept. I love it.

[Two Fister]

moknots,
Even if they run out of a particular size they'll still have rainchecks. Mustang will mail a life jacket directly to whomever has a raincheck. I'm so impressed by their effort I'm going to make a point of upgrading my jackets and inflatables to Mustangs. I have one of their float coats and automatic inflatables and I think they are the best on the market.

Your exchange student will have a great time. The kids are thrilled and are taking it really seriously. I think a lot of parents are going to be wearing life jackets this year because their kids are going to put the screws to them about it.

A great program all the way around!!
TF

[moknots]

Thanks TF! Looking forward to it, nice to hear it's going over well. I agree re: more adults wearing life jackets. My son in law was a little apprehensive about looking like a dork wearing one, so I bought him a "fishing vest" with floatation and told him a couple of stories about guys who slipped and had their waders fill with water. Search and Rescue had to cut holes in their waders to let the water out so they could pull the bodies out of the river. And what about the poor wife and kid of the guy who thought his float tube was the same as a life preserver. Or the guy who somehow stepped into a loop of line before throwing his crab pot in. The stories go on and on. Personally, I like floatation, AND a knife.